Class Debate
Students are split into groups to provide their argument and rebuttal on a topic via video in a discussion forum.
Why Create this Learning Experience
Mock debates are an excellent technique for multiple subjects or topics. A substantive debate includes a deep dive into the material where students are required to form and present their stance. A group component can also be added to support social constructivism and active learning.
To foster an interactive and engaging activity be sure to clearly articulate the expectations and establish parameters within the prompt. See the additional considerations on how to appropriately use this activity.
Prompt
Assessment Type: Graded
Recommended Learning Tool: Discussion Forum
Learning Domain: A robust online course will incorporate a variety of learning domains to support students’ achievement of the course outcomes. This activity is best suited for a High cognitive function.
If you are actively collaborating with a designer, please direct them to this resource if you are interested in utilizing this learning experience. It can be applied or adapted to your online course.
Additional Considerations
Consider the following recommendations to execute this activity effectively:
- Group management of this assignment may be a challenge for faculty not familiar with managing group work online—additional instructor guidance may need to be provided.
- Clearly articulate activity instructions and expectations, such as purpose, context, collaboration methods, submission format, deadlines, netiquette, model submission examples.
- Consider a rubric to provide students with directions and how their submission(s) will be evaluated.